Snap-action lighter



Dec. 4, 1962 v. VIRTANEN SNAILACTION LIGHTER Filed May l0, 1961 VALUE/WAR V/RTA/VEN INVENTOR.

A OHNE Y 3,066,515 Patented Dec. 4, 1962 han SAB-36,515 SNAP-AC'IIN LIGHTER Valdemar Virtanen, Bergenr'ield, NJ., assigner of thirty percent to Rudolph ll. Enrich, Morris Townshi N3 Filed May it), 1%1, Ser. No. 199,194 3 Claims. (tl,I 67--7.1)

This invention relates to pyrophoric lighters of the class wherein a wick is ignited upon rotation of a sparking wheel and more particularly to a novel arrangement for imparting a snap-action to the sparking wheel upon rotation of a cover member from a normally-closed position to an open position.

The operating reliability of a lighter depends upon a positive and adequate production of sparks for each and every actuation of the sparking wheel. In fingeroperable lighters of conventional construction, it is necessary for the user to impart a brisk, rotational force to the finger-operable member to cause a rapid rotation of the sparking wheel against a cooperating piece of lint. A slow, or uniform, rotation of such member generally is inadequate to produce the necessary sparks for positive ignition of the wick.

Various arrangements have heretofore been proposed to render it impossible for the user to rotate the sparking wheel at a velocity below that required for the positive production of sparks. Such prior arrangements, however, involve complicated mechanisms which are both costly to produce and have a relatively short operating life. Also, the prior arrangements cannot be incorporated in a thin, narrow case which can be grasped lirmly in one hand for convenient one-hand operation of the lighter.

An object of this invention is the provision or a simple arrangement for producing a snap-action operation of a lighter of this class.

An object of this invention is the provision of a lighter wherein all operating components of the spark producing mechanism are mounted on a single shaft and wherein the finger pressure applied to the actuating mechanism must exceed a predetermined value to thereby impart a snap-rotation to the sparking wheel.

An object of this invention is the provision of a lighter wherein a sparking wheel is rotated in response to movement of a finger-rotatable cover member from closed to open position and including means cooperating with the cover member to impart a snap-action to the sparking wheel.

An object of this invention is the provision of a lighter comprising an elongated case, a flint having an axis eX- tending lengthwise of the case, a cover member operable from a normally closed to an open position, and means normally latching the cover member in the closed position.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description when taken with the accompanying drawings. It Will be understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes of illustration and are not to be construed as delining the scope or limits of the invention, reference being had for the latter purpose to the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote like parts in the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a pocket lighter made in accordance with this invention and showing the cover member in the normal, closed position;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary view, with parts broken away and parts in section, showing the operating mechanism of the lighter and with the cover member in the closed position;

FIGURE 3 is similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the cover member in the `open position;

FIGURE 4 is similar to FIGURE 3 but taken from the front of the lighter and with the wick omitted; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged isometric View showing the latch mechanism.

The lighter comprises a case 10 and a cover member 11 that is pivotally mounted to the case by a shaft 12. It will be noted that the case is of elongated form, representative overall dimensions being a height of 21A inches, a width of 1% inches and a thickness of 1/2 inch. Consequently, the lighter can be grasped lirmly in one hand for operation thereof as contrasted with prior snapaction lighters wherein the case necessarily is substantially wider by reason of the mechanism for providing the snap-action.

The upper surface of the cover member 11 is formed to include a more or less upstanding end portion 13 to accommodate the thumb of the user so that a generally clockwise pressure applied thereto by the thumb will cause the cover member to rotate about the shaft 12 to the open position, as shown in FIGURE 3. The cover member is spring-biased to the closed position as will be described hereinbelow. The lower portion of the case constitutes a chamber for the lighter fluid. A wick 14 extends into the liuid chamber through a bushing 15 and a rod of flint 16 has one end spring-biased into contact with the peripheral surface of the sparking wheel 1'7, the axes of the wick and iiint extending lengthwise of the case.

As is well known in the art, one face of the sparking wheel is provided with a plurality of radial ridges, generally tive in number, and a radially-split spring washer 18 (see FIGURE 4) is disposed on the same shaft as the sparking wheel in abutting relation to the ridged face of the wheel. The arrangement is such that rotation of the washer in one direction imparts a corresponding rotation to the sparking wheel whereas a reverse rotation of the washer merely results in a slipping of the washer relative to the wheel. Thus, an oscillatory rotation of the washer 18, through an appropriate angular extent, results in a ratchet type action to cause a step-by-step rotation of the sparking wheel in one direction. As shown in FIGURE 4, the spring washer 18 has an integral, extending arm 19. This arm is provided with a longitudinal slot formed in the free end thereof. A pin 20, extending across the hollow cover member 11, is disposed within the slot formed in the arm 19 whereby rotation of the cover member, about the shaft 12, from the closed to the open position rotates the spring washer 18, which, in turn, rotates the sparking wheel.

The cover member l11 normally is biased to the closed position by a spring 21, having an intermediate portion coiled about a pin 22 that is secured to the case 10. The lower end of the spring abuts the surface of a platform 23 while the upper end of the spring engages a rivet 24 secured to the cover member 11. The spring is arranged to apply a force to rotate the cover to the closed position.

I provide a snap-action rotation of the sparking wheel by a simple, frictional, latching mechanism comprising a cooperating pawl 25 and leaf spring 26. The pawl 25 is formed as a ,plate the plane of which is normal to the axis of pivoting of the cover member 11 and arranged for simultaneous rotation with said cover member about the shaft 12 as a pivot axis. For this purpose, the pawl is provided with a hole 27 accommodating the shaft 12 and a hole 28 accommodating a rivet 29 secured to the side wall of the cover member. On the other hand, the leaf spring 26 includes an upturned end Sil which overlies the shoulder at the free end of the arcuate edge of the pawl 25 when the cover member is in the closed position as shown in FIGURE 2. The arrangement is such that the finger pressure exerted against the section 13, of the cover member, must be substantially greater than that required to overcome the force of the cover-closing spring 21 in order to effect rotation of the cover member. Thus, when the iinger pressure exceeds a predetermined magnitude, the end 3&3 of the leaf spring 26 is flexed whereby the end of the pawl slips past the spring end. This results in a snaprotation of the cover member to the open position, as shown in FIGURE 3, and a corresponding snap-rotation of the sparking wheel thereby producing adequate sparking for positive ignition of the wick. It will be apparent that a slow rotation of the cover member from the open to the closed position is impossible due to the normally restraining influence of the spring end 3i). Upon release of the dinger pressure from the cover member, the spring 26, FIGURE 4, rotates the cover member back t the closed position.

It is pointed out that the pawl is a sector with the arcuate surface having a radius exceeding the radial distance measured from the edge of the upturned spring end to the center of the shaft 12. Although the leading edge or shoulder at the end of the arcuate portion of the pawl is slightly rounded, a considerable force must be applied to the finger-operable member I3 in order to liex the end 30, of the spring, and to cause the edge thereof to slide along the arcuate surface of the pawl. The magnitude of the force required to rotate the cover member from the closed position depends upon the characteristics of the spring 26, the length of the upturned end 30, and the radius of the pawl. In the drawings, the relationship between the pawl and the spring end is exaggerated for purposes of description. Actually, the edge of the upturned spring end 3@ need extend only slightly beyond the leading edge of the pawl to provide a good snap-action rotation of the cover member and sparking wheel. Further, the angular extent of the arcuate surface of the pawl will depend upon the construction of the particular sparking wheel. For example, if the sparking wheel rotates 70 degrees upon rotation of the cover member from closed to open position, the angular length of the arcuate surface of the pawl will be approximately 8O degrees, so that the spring end will remain in sliding engagement with such arcuate surface when the cover is in the fully open position as shown in FIGURE 3.

In the illustrated arrangement, the pawl 25 is pivoted about the shaft 12 and is mechanically coupled to the cover member by the rivet 29 passing through a hole 28 formed in the pawl. This construction facilitates replacement of the pawl. However, it will be apparent the pawl can be secured to the cover member by other suitable means. Also, in a lighter of this type,the upper, back side of the casing is provided with a cut-out section to accommodate the finger-operable portion 13 of the handle, when the cover member is in the fully open position, as shown in FIGURE 3. Consequently, the leaf spring can be formed as shown in FIGURE 5, to facilitate replacement thereof. Specifically, the leaf spring is provided with a slot 31 having a width corresponding to that of the bushing 32 which supports the iiint I6, see FIGURE 2. The width of the leaf spring corresponds to the spacing between the front and rear wall of the lighter case at the plane of the platform 23. Consequently, the leaf spring can be shipped into the operating position, or removed therefrom, through the case opening. Obviously, the leaf spring can be secured in operating position by any other suitable means.

Changes and modiiications of this character may be mane without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as recited in the following claims.

I claim:

l. A lighter comprising an elongated case, a hollow cover member pivotally secured to the case, said cover member adapted to close an end of the case and including a linger-operable section; spring means biasing the cover member to the closed position; a sector-shaped pawl member coupled to and rotatable with the cover member, said pawl member having an arcuate surface of greater angular extent than the maximum angular rotation of the cover member; and a leaf spring aixed to the ease and having an offset end portion normally lying in the path of travel of an edge of the pawl member as the cover member is rotated from the closed to the open position, the arrangement being such that the force applied to the said finger-operable section to cause the said edge of the pawl member to flex the offset end portion of the spring results in a snap-rotation of the cover member.

2. A lighter of the class described comprising a case, a cover member pivotally carried by the case, spring means biasing said cover member to the closed position, finger-operable means for rotating the cover member to open position, and latching means restraining rotation of the cover member until the pressure exerted upon the nger-operable member exceeds a predetermined value, said latching means comprising a pawl member coupled to and rotatable with the cover member and a spring member having an end lying in the path of travel of the edge of the pawl member as the cover member is rotated from lthe closed to the open position.

3. The invention as recited in claim 2, wherein the said pawl member is sector-shaped and rotates about the pivot axis of the cover member, the arcuate length of the pawl member exceeding the extent of angular rotation of the cover member, and wherein the said spring member is a leaf spring having a ilat body section restrained against flexing and an upturned end portion lying in the path of travel of the edge of the pawl member as the cover member is rotated to the open position.

2,262,806 Kempf'et al Nov. 18, 1941 Peterson Apr. 7, 1953 -...aa. 

